FORMER St Kilda player Troy Schwarze started his coaching career in fine form, steering Sorrento to a first-up win in the Nepean division of the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League.

Schwarze kicked three goals as his team kept Rosebud goalless in the second half, and scoreless in the final term, winning 15.10 (100) to 6.8 (44). Sorrento is one of the pre-season favourites and is expected to challenge last year's runner-up, Langwarrin, for the title this season.

Premier Rye managed to get the points against Pearcedale in a low-scoring affair, 7.10 (52) to 5.9 (39).

But the talking point of the round was a six-goal haul to veteran Simon Goosey.

Goosey, who spent most of his career at Mornington and then briefly retired before joining Dromana last year, will be aiming to kick his 12th consecutive ton this year and showed no signs of slowing down yesterday. Dromana took care of Red Hill, 20.8 (128) to 12.10 (82).

In the Bellarine Football League, 2006 premier Torquay's season began disastrously yesterday when it was defeated soundly by Newcomb Power in the opening round.

The pair have sparred for the past two grand finals and have one each, but the Torquay outfit this year is a very different side that won the 2006 cup. There are more than 10 new faces in this team, which was outpointed by the 2005 premier, 13.9 (87) to 5.10 (40).

Torquay assistant coach Chris Whitman said it would take time for the new players to gel and their pre-season together had been limited due to drought-affected grounds.

He said Torquay had only one practice game before yesterday's match and although the club was disappointed with the result, its expectations for the new season were still high.

The other sour note for Torquay was an injury to its captain Luke Murfitt, who was unable to take part for most of the second half after bruising his knee.

The league's 2004 premier Geelong Amateur also had a horrible start after it was crushed by Anglesea, 14.12 (96) to 3.6 (24). The Amateurs, who were kept goalless in the first half, have sunk to the bottom of the ladder.

Modewarre got off to a flyer, with Scott Hovey kicking five goals and Brendon Harvey four in their team's demolition of Portarlington, 18.15 (123) to 6.9 (45).

Drysdale Hawks were also first-up winners, with former Sydney utility Wade Chapman bagging four goals in a close encounter with Ocean Grove, winning 11.12 (78) to 10.11 (71).

And after trailing at half-time, Queenscliff outplayed Barwon Heads, 9.7 (61) to 6.13 (49).

This article first appeared in The Age: April 22, 2007